Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 16
”
BeforeIreturntomyadventuresIamcompelledtotelloneremarkableincidentthatoccurredinsolitary.Itisremarkableintwoways.Itshowstheastoundingmentalpowerofthatchildofthegutters,JakeOppenheimer;anditisinitselfconvincingproofoftheverityofmyexperienceswheninthejacketcoma.
“Say,professor,”Oppenheimertappedtomeoneday.“WhenyouwasspielingthatAdamStrangyarn,Irememberyoumentionedplayingchesswiththatroyalsouseofanemperor’sbrother.Nowisthatchesslikeourkindofchess?”
OfcourseIhadtoreplythatIdidnotknow,thatIdidnotrememberthedetailsafterIreturnedtomynormalstate.Andofcoursehelaughedgood-naturedlyatwhathecalledmyfoolery.YetIcoulddistinctlyrememberthatinmyAdamStrangadventureIhadfrequentlyplayedchess.ThetroublewasthatwheneverIcamebacktoconsciousnessinsolitary,unessentialandintricatedetailsfadedfrommymemory.
ItmustberememberedthatforconvenienceIhaveassembledmyintermittentandrepetitionaljacketexperiencesintocoherentandconsecutivenarratives.Ineverknewinadvancewheremyjourneysintimewouldtakeme.Forinstance,IhaveascoreofdifferenttimesreturnedtoJesseFancherinthewagon-circleatMountainMeadows.
